Why paleo is so powerful

I fully recognize that there are certain conditions for which a prescription or medical intervention may be lifesaving and necessary. Most chronic conditions, however, have their underpinnings in our overall level of immune health—the conditions that rest upon the aspects of our physiology that are directly affected by food. These conditions can and will be impacted by dietary and lifestyle changes if we’re willing to make those changes. So how can we circle back toward the idea that health is a natural state for humans and that relying on medications to relieve symptoms is not usually a real solution?

FINDING GLUTEN

Check out the Guide to: Gluten see here for more information on where gluten hides!

While we’ve forgotten what “real food” is over the last few decades and have been left desperately seeking sustenance that will truly nourish our bodies, there is hope. The fact that we’re disillusioned with the conventional wisdom—and for good reason—is a step in the right direction.

Still, many people are ready and willing to change but lack the information that will help them put their chronic symptoms in remission. Luckily, the health movement that has arisen from the disillusionment has gained extraordinary momentum for a reason: It has helped countless individuals overcome what were seemingly insurmountable, chronic, or even unrecognized health problems.

People are just beginning to realize that they are no longer destined to suffer from diseases—or even minor ailments—that are caused by modern food and depleting lifestyles. We have found a better way. I want to share with you, as I’ve shared with my grandmother over the years, that we can indeed circle back to food that comes from properly raised animals and well-tended plants. You don’t have to rely on factory-derived, packaged calories stamped with unfounded health claims that are nothing more than marketing spin. You can find extraordinary health in beautifully simple, unprocessed, whole foods.

PART 1:

THE WHY — FOOD AND YOUR BODY

what is paleo?

“Paleo” is short for Paleolithic, but the name is actually less important than the power of the overall approach.

While the term “Paleo” has gained traction in the mainstream media and on bookstore shelves everywhere due to the improved health of those who follow the lifestyle, you could call it “Primal,” “Grain-Free,” “Real Food,” “Whole Food,” “Nutrient-Dense,” or “Ancestral.” Whatever name you choose, the “Paleo” way of eating is simple: Mimic our ancestors, who suffered from fewer chronic diseases than modern populations. This doesn’t mean that you’ll recreate a caveman’s food landscape, of course. Our food supply and our environment are different from our ancestors, so we must adapt as new information comes to light.

The lifestyle is simply about (1) eating whole foods that provide better fuel for your body and (2) avoiding processed, refined, nutrient-poor factory foods. This means avoiding grains, legumes (beans), refined sugar, and pasteurized dairy products. People believe eating whole foods is hard and limiting, but it isn’t. It may be an adjustment at first, but it’s simply a matter of eliminating foods that don’t promote health in your body.

Still, applying such a way of eating to your life can be confusing. We must go a few steps further and create a plan that’s customized for your body’s needs to achieve optimal health. So after you’ve tackled basic food choices, it is critical to make sure you maintain proper digestive function and blood sugar regulation. You also need to understand what to do to reach your own personal health goals. Paleo is not a one-size-fits-all approach, but it’s a way of eating that is appropriate for all human animals. In other words, you are a human animal, so there is a Paleo plan that is right for you.

This Paleo way of eating provides what I believe to be a fantastic framework upon which to build a solid nutritional plan. In fact, the quantity and quality of scientific research behind this movement is astounding, showing how an ancestral diet promotes excellent health. If you’re interested in learning more about the science behind this way of eating, I recommend the research conducted by the leading experts listed below:

Dr. Loren Cordain, author of The Paleo Diet

Dr. Staffan Lindeberg, author of Food and Western Disease: Health and Nutrition From an Evolutionary Perspective

Dr. Alessio Fasano, a leading researcher on the effects of gluten proteins on intestinal barrier function

Robb Wolf, biochemist and New York Times bestselling author of The Paleo Solution

Mathieu Lalonde, Ph. D., organic chemist

Chris Kresser, LAc., Integrative Medicine Practitioner

didn’t cavemen only live to be 30?

While the Paleo way of eating is not a replication of a caveman diet, let’s shatter the myth about the life span of primitive humans. Their life span was based on several factors:

1. In the absence of modern medicine, infant mortality rates were high and estimated life span was based on an average of those who died at birth as well as those who lived long lives. It doesn’t mean that every human alive in the Paleolithic era dropped dead at age thirty. In fact, those who lived to about age twenty went on to have an estimated life span closer to sixty years.

2. Deaths from infectious diseases were more common in the absence of modern medicine.

3. They were more vulnerable to predatory animals.

4. They were vulnerable to the elements due to inferior shelter.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14